Congratulations to HRTC members Tim McAuley, Tom McAuley, Christine Stirling, and Andrew Brough for winning this year’s Boomerang Cup held in Melbourne in January. It is the first time a Hobart team has made the finals, let alone won the event, since its inception 24 years ago.

The RMTC Boomerang is a biennial handicap doubles competition, and with 30 teams, two from Hobart, involving close to 200 players, including more than 70 from overseas (UK, The Netherlands, France, USA), the two-week event is claimed to be the largest handicap event in the world.

HRTC was represented by two teams: the Tassie Devils (Paul Dunne (c), John Davis, Ellen Davis, Stephen Pinkus, John Moores and Michelle Moores), and The Fugitives (Tim McAuley (c), Tom McAuley, Christine Stirling, Andrew Brough, Annie McAuley and Steve Hiho). Sue Davis and Zac Davis also participated as members of a Melbourne team, the OneServeBanTambours.

The first week of the competition is a round robin with the top 16 teams going through to the Cup and the remainder playing off for the Plate in the second week. The Fugitives started with an underwhelming 4-0 loss to the MCC Crickets, but recovered strongly winning their three remaining pool matches, making it through to the second week of the Cup. The Tassie Devils had a tough draw in the first week, with two of the eventual Cup semi-finalists in their pool group. In the final match of the round robin, they came under intense fire from the RMTC Wosps, headed by Julian Snow, and although not prevailing, they kept the pressure on until the final game.

In the Plate, the Tassie Devils won their way through to the semi-final. Every match was a close affair with the quarter-final being tied and needed a close reading of the rules to work out how to break the impasse. In the semi-final, the Devils won more games than they lost but needed to convert one more set to ensure a victory, going down tantalisingly close at 8/2, 7/8, 7/8, 7/8.

In the Cup, The Fugitives met the tournament favourites, the Dutch Courtiers, in the round-of-16, with a closely fought, upset 3-1 win. They then met the highly fancied US Secret Service in the quarter-final, winning that 2-2 on games 27-21. In the semi-final, the aptly named OneServeBanTambours (Zac Davis a member) put up a strong fight and were up 2-1 going into the deciding fourth set. Tim McAuley and Steve Hiho took the set 8-3, battling back from 40-owe-40 down in the final game, taking the match narrowly 2-2 on games 24-23.

The final was against the Hatfield Hedonists, who had cruised through the pool rounds and finals week. Tom McAuley and Andrew Brough blasted the opening pair of Nick Brodie and Stephen Brewerton 8-5 with a thrilling display of power tennis. In the second set, Annie McAuley and Steve Hiho came from 5-7 down to beat Martin Kellaway and Robert Stewart 8-7 in a tense final game. The third set was possibly one of the most entertaining exhibitions of handicap tennis witnessed in the history of the competition. Playing Hatfield’s Stephen Brewerton and Robert Stewart, Hobart’s Tom McAuley and Christine Stirling played the games of their lives, taking the set 8-6 and the match, sealing the final game by defending a hazard better-than-half-a-yard with an unplayable chase-the-line. The fourth set also went to The Fugitives pair Tim McAuley and Steve Hiho 8-5 against Hatfield’s Nick Brody and David Hudson, sealing the final with a decisive 4-0 win.

Well done guys!

The Boomerang is highly recommended to any Hobart player: you’ll certainly get your money’s worth with plenty of great tennis and social events spread over two weeks. The Melbourne Club (especially the pool!) is a great place to hang for two weeks in the height of summer, and the event provides a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with players from around the globe. Both The Fugitives and the Tassie Devils will be returning in 2020.

The Ballarat team was represented by Michael Williams, Mark Hartnell, Wayne Spring, Will Hoskin and Jon Hamer. Hobart produced a formidable side which included Kieran Booth, Al Ramsay, Patrick Dunne and Graeme Bradfield. On paper, the handicaps looked a big advantage to the Hobart team, but to Ballarat’s credit, they threw everything at their opponents and challenged admirably.

The first singles saw the match-up of Will Hoskin v Patrick Dunne. Will played with great vigour and composure, was unlucky not to take a set of Patrick, but eventually went down 6/4 6/4 6/5. The next match, agreed to be best of three sets instead of the usual five, was the clash of Wayne Spring v Graeme Bradfield. In the previous meeting of these two in Ballarat, Wayne took the points, so Graeme was out for revenge and talking up his big game! To Graeme’s credit he was strong from the outset and never let Wayne into the match winning 6/2 6/3. Mark Hartnell was next up against a very strong opponent in Al Ramsay. Al proved too strong for Mark in all areas of the game, winning 6/3 6/1 6/1. Al’s consistency on the serve and return of serve were key elements in his decisive win. In the final singles rubber we witnessed the “clash of the Titans match” between Michael Williams and Kieran Booth. This was an awesome display of controlled hitting, technique and touch around the court. They both hit every winner in the book, but Kieran just had that final composure when it counted, prevailing 6/2 6/4 6/5. Great entertainment guys!

Sunday was doubles day. The number one pair for Hobart were Kieran and Al and they proved far too strong for Mark and Will, winning 6/0 6/2 6/1. This then set up the most anticipated final doubles rubber: could the legendary pair of Wayne Spring and Jon Hamer give Ballarat some hope in the final rubber against Patrick and Graeme? The match could have gone either way, with many twists and turns and changes in momentum. First set went to Hobart 6/5, the second set to Ballarat 6/5, and Hobart claimed the crucial third set 6/4. Hobart then cruised to a 4/0 lead in the fourth set, but Ballarat fought back, levelling at 4/4, only to be stripped of the set 6/4.

Well done to Hobart for a comfortable win against Ballarat. All matches were played in a great spirit and we look forward to coming to Hobart next year.

HRTC’s Class 7 Doubles Club Championships were held on 24 February, with our 70+ handicaps taking to the court for non-handicap doubles action. It was a great day of tennis and in the end the ladies duo of Michelle Moores and Martine Heilman were crowned Class 7 Champions. Well done girls!

The Hobart Real Tennis Club hosted a group of nine Sydney-siders last weekend in the annual three-day interclub bash. There were numerous particularly close matches throughout the weekend, but the local crew seemed to just get ahead at the right time. The weekend of tennis was complemented by a lively dinner at Rockwall in Salamanca, with everyone enjoying the great food and plenty of local wine. Hobart defeated Sydney 20 matches to 7.

Our 2018 Singles Club Championships are due to commence shortly. The graded, non-handicap matches will be arranged around member availability. It is hoped that the finals of these events can be played at our Club Championship finals weekend on November 24–25. While the club pros will endeavour to arrange match times that suit members, we ask that participants make every effort to make themselves available for their scheduled matches.

ALL HRTC MEMBERS WILL BE ENTERED INTO THEIR RELEVANT CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GRADES UNLESS HRTC IS NOTIFIED OTHERWISE.

Participants will be charged $20 entry for each grade they enter. Please let the pros know by 5 pm Friday 2 March If you do not wish to participate by calling the club or using the link above.

Members playing in these events agree to do so under the terms of the HRTC Club Championship Rules and are asked to acquaint themselves with the rules prior to commencement. Please contact the club pros with any queries.